Building structure



T. E. KING BUILDING STRUCTURE,

Filed June 27, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Thon asE'olwarol JG.

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ATTO R N EY3 June 6, 1944. 'r. E. KING BUILDING STRUCTURE F iled June 27, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 N"/ L u. m m 1| iv i u/ m /u mm 3 m m MM .m. A

av mY Z June 6, 1944.

T. E. KING 2,350,904

BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed June 27, 1942 3 Sheets-Shae? s INVENTOR WITNESSES Thomas Edward hiny BY J 7%, 1H /w 1 g7 ATTORNEYS I Patented June 6, 1944 UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE BUILDINfSifttICTURE I v v I Thomas Edward King, Hartsdale, N. Y., assignor to Lord & Burnham Company, Irvington-on- Hudson, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 27, 1942, Serial No. 448,757;

3 Claims.

which is somewhat more substantial in construction and overcomes many of the disadvantages associated with tents. Thus, my improved structure is easy to assemble and to take apart, and may be readily transported from place to place and may be stored away when dis-assembled, in a relatively small space.

In addition to the foregoing desirable characteristics, my improved building structure is also sturdy and rugged and can withstand considerably more wear and abuse than the ordinary tent.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved building structure of the above character which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which requires a minimum amount of labor in its assembly and dis-assembly, and which does not require any special tools or equipment.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved portable building structure which is weather-tight and can withstand wind and rain without the use of battens or sealing compound.

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a building structure embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the building structure;

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the connection between one of the side wall sections and floor sections;

Fig. 4. is a detail view in sectional elevation of the connection between theside wall section and fioor section;

Fig. 5 is a sectional fragmentary plan view showing several of the side wall sections and floor sections, and a portion of one of the end panels;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view showing several floor sections and an end section; I

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a form of door sill which may be used;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of portions of adjoining side wall and roof sections showing the manner in which they are fitted together; p v

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the roof and side wall sections in folded or collapsed position; e I 7 Fig. 10 is a detail view of a portion of the bracing for the side wall andiroof. sections;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the wedge bolt which may be used in assembling my building structure;

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view of the threshold of the building structure;

Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view of the upper portion of an end Wall of the building structure showing the manner in which the door is supported thereon;

Fig. 14 is a detail view showing a portion of one of the windows indicating the manner in which it is locked or held in position; and

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of one of the fit-;

tings used for holding the end wall in position.

My improved building structure may be made in a variety of different shapes. However, I prefer to form it as shown, with a slanting roof, angularly disposed side walls, vertical end walls, and a horizontally positioned floor.

The structure is made of a plurality of separate sections releasably attached together in such a fashion that it may be readily assembled and dis-assembled. Thus, the fioorisformed of' a plurality of separate panels I made of a suitable strong material, such as plywood impregnated with a synthetic resin. Each panel is of sufficient length to extend completely across the building structure and they are fitted together side by side in abutting relationship in the manner shown. I I -1- A Each panel is suitably reinforced by transverse braces 2, preferably made of wood, secured to the undersurface thereof and projecting a slight distance from the two sides of the panel. The braces are disposed at a slight angle so that when the panels are fitted together side by side the projecting portions of the braces of adjacent panels are in overlapping contacting relationship, as most clearly shown in Fig. 5. V

Extending longitudinally of the floor panels adjacent the two lateral edges thereof, and secured to the undersurface of the braces, are the sleepers 3 upon which the floor is adapted to rest. In assembling the floor, the sleepers may rest directly on the ground or, if preferred, they may rest upon transversely arranged stringer pieces 4. Any desired number of separate floor panels are arranged in abutting relationship, in the manner shown, depending upon the size of the structure desired. I have found that for most purposes five separate panels are suificient. V

To facilitate the attachment of the fioor panels to the side wall and roof sections, I provide the floor panels with bars or-blocks I4 extending transversely thereof adjacent the two ends and provided with longitudinally extending grooves or recesses in the central portion ofthe upper surface.

The side walls and roof of the-structure are formed of a plurality of separate sections 5 ,each

consisting of a side wall panel 6 and a roof panel 1 connected together at their abutting ends by means of hinges 8 so that they may be collapsed into the flat parallel position shown in Fig. 9, or may be extended at an angle somewhat larger than 90 so as to provide for the. side wall and braces 9, l and H, the brace 9 being positioned I a very short distance from one lateral edge of the panel; the brace I!) being positioned at an intermediate portion of the panel, and the brace. ll projecting slightly from the opposite lateral edge of the panel. I a V In assembling the structure thesections are fitted together in abutting. relationship with the braces 9 of one section in engagement with the braces. H of the adjacent section. In this way the plywood panel adjacent thebrace 9 overlaps to a slight extent the brace ll of the adjacent panel. To strengthen the overlapping edges of the panels they are preferably reinforced by means of strips l-2.of plywood or other suitable material, secured to the outer surface thereof.

Adjacent the lower end of each side wall panel I provide a transverse bar l5 which is adapted to rest in the recess provided in the transverse bar H5 of the floor panels, forming a tight joint as most clearly shown in Fig.3. The side wall'panel is releasably attached to the floor panel by means ofa small metallic strap l6 permanently attached to the center brace In of each side wall panel and formed at an angle equal to the angle between the side wall panels and the floor panels. The lower portion of the connecting strap is apertured and a corresponding aperture'is also formedin the floor panel I and bar it, through which some; suitable attaching means is inserted. The attaching-means preferably takes the form of the wedge bolt, shown in Fig. 11, consisting of a stud portion I! having a head I8 at one end,

and a transverse'slot' l'g-adjacent the other end.

The stud is projected through the apertures in the floor panel, bar l4, and connecting strap It, and a small wedge pin is then inserted through the slot and driven firmly into position, holding the parts. in assembled relationship. A small metallic washer or gasket 2| may be used in connection with the wedge bolt to protect wooden surfaces from the wedge 20 when required. In 1 the present instance, however, the strap 13 As previously stated, the side wall panel and roof panel in each section is connected together by hinge B at the eaves or; the structure. The hinge connection is preferably so arranged so that the roof panel I- overhangs the side wall panel 5 when the'house' is assembled. In thi's connection the upper ends of the reinforcing bars 9, 10 and II of the side wall panels 6 are formed with projecting'points which engage innotches formed in the reinforcing bars of thereof panel. Adjacent the upper edge of the side wall panel I provide a reinforcing strip 23 and adjacent the lower edge of the roof panel I provide a reinforc ingstrip 24 which is adapted to rest against the outer surface of the. side wall panel when the section is assembled. I a

i The side wall and roofpanels are retainedin assembled" relationship by means of a pair; of

brace arms 25 releasably connected between the intermediate reinforcing bars II] on each set of side wall and roof panels. The releasable connection between the bracing arms 25 and the reinforcing' bars ID preferably takes the form of thewedge bolt I! and wedge 20, the bars in and arms '25 being apertured in the manner shown so i as to accommodate the wedge bolt, and the surfaces of the wood surrounding the apertures being preferably protected by means of the metal Washer 21.

Adjacent-the upper edge of each roof panel I provide a reinforcing bar 26, and in assembling the house the reinforcing bars 26 of opposite section are arranged in abutting relationship, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, and the sections are then joined together by means of pairs of arms 25 attachedto the bracing bars ill by means of wedge bolts IT and wedges 20 inserted through apertures and assembled in the manner previously described. I v In order to make the structure weather-tight so that it can withstand wind and rain, I provide rain ducts or conduits in the abutting portions of the several sections. Thus, in the outer surface of the reinforcing bars 9 and I l, of both the side wall and roof panels 6 and 1, I provide small rectangular channels 21. These channels perform no function in' the reinforcing bars 9, and are included therein merely for the purpose of standardizing the construction of bars 9 and H. However, it will be noted that in the bars i I the channels 27 are positioned at the point of abutment between adjacentpanels and accordingly, if any rain leaks through at that point, it will be carried downwardly to the ground through the channel.

As an added precaution, the abutting faces of the bars 9 and H are formed with grooves or channels 28 which are arranged in mating or engaging relationship, as shown most clearly in Fig.1 3, when the structure is' assembled. Any moisture or water which might leak past the channel 21 between the bars 9 and H will be trapped in the grooves 28 and carried downwardly to the ground.

'I also provide similar grooves 28in the abutting faces of the bars 26 and'any'water which might leak through the point at the ridge of the structure will be trapped in the grooves 28 and will be conducted to the'two ends of the structure.

The side wall and roof sections 5 are preferably of the same width as the floor sections, and a corresponding number'of floor and roof and side wall sections are employed inthe structure. Thus, where five'fioor sections are employed, five side wall and roof sections are similarly employed on both sides of the structure and they are assembled in thefashion previously described. The ends of the structure are preferably closed with walls which maybe divided or separated into individual panels or sections, and suitable doors and windows may be provided in the end walls.

In the structure illustrated, the end walls are formed of a pair of'side panels 29 engaging the side wall panels at both sides of the structure and each formed of a plywood panel reinforced by suitable bars or' the like. Adjacent the panels 291 provide'the panels 38 which engage the panels 29 at their outer edges, and extend upwardly into engagement with the roof panel. The panels 30 are' similarly formed: of plywood having reinforcing bars attached thereto. "The panels atare'provided; with openings which accommodate the windows" 3!, each window preferably consisting of a frame portion 32 supporting a transparent sheet of material, such as glass, or plastic material which will not break as readily as glass. The windows are releasably held in the window openings by means of small spring-pressed pins 33 mounted in the frames, and normally pressed into apertures formed in the braces of panel 30 by means of a spring. The windows can be removed by withdrawing the pins 33 from the apertures.

Between the panels 30 is a doorway and above the doorway I provide 'a small panel 34 which similarly may be made of plywood reinforced by similar braces. The several panels are held in position by means of wedge bolt I1 and wedges 2G.

I may provide any desired type of door for the doorway, and in the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a pair of doors 35 and 36, the door 35 being made of some impervious material, such as wood, glass or the like, and the door 36 being a screen door. The doors may be hung in any desired manner. In the drawings I have shown sliding doors each provided with a T-bar 3? at its upper edge resting in a channel track 38, supported on the panels 29 and 30 by means of wedge bolts IT. The channel 38 is of sufficient length so that the doors may be slid to the two sides of the doorway, leaving it open, or either door may be slid across the doorway so as to close it.

In order to hold the lower edges of the doors inwardly and prevent them from swinging outwardly, I provide small fittings 39 consisting of a pair of depending arms 40 adapted to engage the two sides of sleeper 3, and a small upwardly projecting arm 4| projecting upwardly in front of the structure, in the manner shown, so as to engage the outer surface of the doors. I also provide a door sill 42 adapted to rest on the threshold and provided with a pair of angle bars 43 inserted between the floor panels I and the sleepers 3 to hold the sill in position. The angle bars 43 also project outwardly from the front of the sill, in the manner shown, and are formed with transversely arranged angle irons 44 adapted to engage the lower edge of the doors to hold them in position.

In assembling the structure, the floor panels are first assembled so as to produce a floor area of the desired size. Each of the roof and side wall sections are then extended and the braces 25 secured in position, and the sections are then assembled in pairs on the ground with the ridge bars arranged in abutting relationship. The pairs of sections are then elevated and attached to the floor panels and to each other by means of the wedge bolts. Thereafter the end walls, doors and sills are secured in position.

From the foregoing description of my invention, it will be appreciated that I have provided an improved portable structure which is easy to assemble and take apart, which may be readily transported from place to place, and may be stored away when dis-assembled in a relatively small space. It will also be seen that the structure is relatively strong and rugged and can withstand considerable wear and abuse, and that it is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, requires a minimum amount of labor for its assembly and dis-assembly, and does not require any special tools or equipment.

Modifications may, of course, be made in the illustrated and described embodiment of my invention of my invention as, for instance, the number of panels which are assembled together may be greatly varied, and the arrangement-of the end walls and of the doors and windows may also be varied.

I claim:

1. A portable structure comprising a plurality of floor panels cooperable to be arranged in abutting relationship to produce a unitary floor, a plurality of combined side wall and roof sections cooperable to be arranged in abutting relationship, each consisting of a side wall panel and a roof panel hingedly connected together so as to be shiftable from collapsed parallel position to extended position at an angle of more than means for releasably connecting the lower ends of the side wall panels to the floor panels, and means for releasably connecting together the upper ends of the roof panels in pairs, the said side wall and roof panels each consisting of a relatively flat sheet of material with a longitudinal bracing bar attached a spaced distance from one edge thereof, and with a longitudinal bracing bar projecting a short distance from the other longitudinal edge thereof whereby the sheet of material of one panel overlaps the projecting bracing bar of the adjacent panel.

2. A portable structure comprising a plurality of floor panels cooperable to be arranged in abutting relationship to produce a unitary floor, a plurality of combined side wall and roof sections cooperable to be arranged in abutting relationship, each consisting of a side wall panel and a roof panel hingedly connected together so as to be shiftable from collapsed parallel position to extended position at an angle of more than 90, means for releasably connecting the lower ends of the side wall panels to the floor panels, and means for releasably connecting together the upper ends of the roof panels in pairs, the said side wall and roof panels each consisting of a relatively fiat sheet of material with a longitudinal bracing bar attached a spaced distance from one edge thereof, and with a longitudina1 bracing bar projecting a short distance from the other longitudinal edge thereof whereby the sheet of material of one panel overlaps the projecting bracing bar of the adjacent panel, the abutting faces of the longitudinal bracing bars of the side wall and roof panels having mating grooves forming channels or conduits to conduct water to the ground.

3. A portable building including a floor, a plurality of combined side wall and roof sections cooperable to be arranged in abutting relationship and each consisting of a side wall panel and a roof panel hingedly connected together so as to be shiftable from collapsed parallel position to extended position at an angle with respect to each other, recessed bars secured to the floor on the opposite side edge portions respectively, bars secured to the lower edge portions respectively of the side wall panels and which are adapted to rest in the recesses respectively of said floor bars,

straps on said side wall panels, and detachable fasteners extending through the floor bars and said straps.

THOMAS EDWARD KING. 

